Set up by the CoR in 2011, the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) is the political forum of local and regional authorities from the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries.

It is the only EU platform that offers an opportunity to discuss the contribution by cities and regions in the development of the
Eastern Partnership.

What's the aim of CORLEAP?

coordinate the representation of the local and regional authorities within the Eastern Partnership

complement and support the effort by the EU institutions and other participating stakeholders in delivering the European Neighbourhood Policy

spread the concepts that will bring partner countries closer to the EU and foster the internal reform and capacity building at the local and regional level

How does it operate?

CORLEAP functions as a “territorial cooperation platform”. Local and regional associations from the partner states are contact points for CORLEAP in their countries, while CoR is the natural contact point for the EU institutions. This enables CORLEAP to collect and share information relevant to the local and regional dimension of the Eastern Partnership.

How is it composed?

CORLEAP consists of 36 regional and local politicians: 18 members of the CoR and 18 representatives from the six Eastern partner countries.

Each Eastern partner country has three seats. The EU seats are distributed according to CoR's political composition, divided between its five political groups: European People's Party (EPP), Party of European Socialists (PES) Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), European Alliance (EA) and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).

Between the annual CORLEAP meetings a Bureau acts as a steering body. The Bureau is responsible for coordinating the work of CORLEAP, monitoring its activities, reports and resolutions. It is composed of six members from the partner countries and six members from the CoR representing the European Union.

The body is co-chaired by the CoR President and a representative from the partner countries whom is elected by CORLEAP members each year. The EU is currently represented by Karl-Heinz Lambertz, the partner countries are represented by Emin Yeritsyan, President of the Union of Communities of Armenia (Armenia).